Will Selviz

What Program did you graduate from and when?

Digital Futures (DF), 2020
 

What is your current title or role? (ie. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.)

Multidimensional Designer
 

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

I went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) for 5 semesters. It was very STEM-focused and there was no room for creativity in the faculty of science; it was slowly draining me. I wanted to switch to a more creative program that allowed me to combine computer science and design. In my 3rd year at UBC, I discovered the DF program at OCAD U. I had wanted to make the move to Toronto for a long time, and OCAD U’s DF program was a great opportunity for me to be where I wanted to be and to study what actually interested me.
 

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

I’m a branding and design consultant specializing in new media (3D, VR/AR, 360 video and spatial design/computing). In short, I look at the future and current trends in the tech and entertainment industries and implement them in marketing campaigns. Recently I worked with Nike Toronto, directing and co-producing a marketing campaign for the launch of the Canadian Women’s Soccer Teams’ new jerseys using 3D animation. I’ve also been directing and producing 3D music videos alongside other designers; which will be coming out later this year. 

I’ve been reflecting a lot on how COVID-19 has affected media production, and how to turn it into a remote solution for social distancing measures. I’ve been focusing on working with brands to create remote solutions to bring their marketing visions to life. Some of my clients over the past few months have been Nike, Revolt TV and Revolt Summit, Jordan Brand (Dubai), Troyboi, Highsnobiety, and Twenty2b.
 

How did you get started in your career?

I had different phases experimenting from medium to medium. I started off as a freelance photographer shooting concerts and festivals in Vancouver. I realized it was for me when I got the opportunity to shoot for Ice Cube and later met and shot Travis Scott. Between 2013 and 2017, I was traveling with DJ’s like REZZ, Autograf, and Troyboi to festivals like Coachella (which I attended during my final exams at OCAD U—I flew back and forth to write my exams), Veld, EDC Vegas, and Shambhala. I had been learning animation on the side for 8 years but made the jump to freelancing 2 years ago. It took a while to save up for a better computer for the job through photography. In hindsight, my academic education went hand-in-hand with my freelance work, and I had the opportunity to put what I was learning into practice. It was a great balance.

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?

Everything depends on where you are in your career. I don’t think it is right to ask someone to work for free with them receiving no benefit from an opportunity. Ask yourself about the possibility of this opportunity evolving into something else. What is the benefit for you? Are they introducing you to new clients? Are you receiving mentorship? Do you believe in their vision and cause? If you are comfortable with receiving something that isn’t monetary and see the long-term benefits, that’s something to consider. Again, know your worth and don’t settle for less, but recognize those moments when your career development does not come from a paycheque.

While at OCAD U, I did four paid placements including Digital Future’s Plugged-In course. This allowed me to get work experience and credits at Twenty2b, a Black-owned, tech design studio run by Drew Henson. I received an honorarium for my time and gained a lot of experience very quickly working with engineers and industrial designers. My role there included co-producing an art show and designing thermochromic breathing masks to raise awareness around air quality in Toronto and around the world.

I participated in the OCAD U Design4 program twice with Art & Science, a digital experience design agency. I learned a lot about working in multidisciplinary teams and had lots of exposure to their complex, everyday operations. I quickly realized my strengths there were in tech research, testing and prototyping solutions for their ongoing projects. I then worked at Somewherelse, an experiential marketing company as a creative producer. I was in charge of mocking up installations and event spaces for clients to visualize and approve. I applied my OCAD U learning there as well. I had the chance to introduce design thinking methodologies that helped optimize their creative output and come up with innovative ideas. It was a great job and I got a lot of experience in the events industry.        
 

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

I enjoy working with people from different backgrounds, discovering new talent, and connecting people and seeing how they would work together in teams. Likewise, I really enjoy the technical side of my work and getting my hands dirty.

However, by the time clients reach out to me, more often than not, they are on a tight deadline. I’d say the most challenging thing is communicating your ideas seamlessly without sacrificing too much time or resources. I have to be very specific, and frugal with my words (and images) to communicate with clients—and of course, to stick to the brief. All this sounds simple, but becomes challenging when it’s your first time working with a client or collaborators on a tight deadline.
 

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?

Design4 and DF allowed me to be more creative on demand. When you have a quick turnaround and are working in a new team, you quickly learn how they all work (personally/technically and creatively) and understand what is feasible within a given timeframe and what isn’t.

To be honest, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I came from UBC and knew what I wanted to experience at OCAD U.

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?

I’d say you need a lot of self-awareness in the context of your industry, and to know when you need to add more skills to your toolbox. “Learn how to learn” so that you can tailor the process and make it more enjoyable. How does information stick for you faster? Where is the world going? What are the patterns you are seeing? How can you pivot? What skills do you need? It's the pursuit of these questions that keep you growing, not the answer itself—that’s always changing.
 

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?

I’m working on a non-profit that removes systemic barriers for BIPOC designers and allows them to access expensive hardware and software to freelance in the creative economy. I’m working on a remote solution that can also offer one-on-one mentorship for those that need it. The truth is I’ve been learning animation for 8 years, but it took me 6 years to save up for adequate hardware and software to freelance. This is why I’m working on an online platform that can be accessed from anywhere in Canada and give folks the tools to learn new skills and grow or pivot into my field faster. If you'd like to learn more, feel free to reach out.